Advancing into Enemy Territory

The Christian life is not a playground; it’s a battleground. In fact, the Bible frequently uses the images of war and conflict to depict the Christian life.

The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3 NLT). He also wrote, “I have fought the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT).

Anyone who chooses to follow Jesus Christ will face severe opposition from the Enemy. But the good news is that we have a choice in the spiritual battle. We can win this war. And here’s more good news: we’ll win in the end.

Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against the church (see Matthew 16:18). To understand what that means, we have to look at the way they conducted warfare in ancient times.

Armies in that day used the common military tactic of breaking down the gate of the enemy’s fortress with a battering ram. (You’ve probably seen it in movies.) They sometimes lit the battering ram on fire to burn down a wooden gate. Then the soldiers rushed in and defeated the occupants of the fortress.

Jesus was saying the gates would not prevail against the battering ram. So, as we move forward as Christians, we gain ground—we don’t simply hold ground. And hopefully we don’t lose ground, either.

God has told us how to win this spiritual battle. Our objective is to reach as many people as we can with the gospel. And as we advance into enemy territory with the gospel message, ultimately, we will win the battle.

So, if you feel a little overwhelmed in the spiritual battle right now, understand that God is with you. If you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, then you’re under His protection. He’s watching out for you.